Gareth Southgate on why Jack Grealish started on the bench vs Germany: "The challenge for the wide players was to attack, defend and to try and score goals – a high tactical level and you’ve got to be spot on – and that’s an area Jack can get better at."
Wednesday 8 June 2022 13:08, UK
Gareth Southgate has challenged Jack Grealish to improve his tactical know-how and all-round game if he is to become a regular starter for England.
Harry Kane's 50th international goal guided England to a 1-1 draw in Germany and their first Nations League point of the campaign. Southgate's team struggled for rhythm in the final third until the introduction of Grealish with 20 minutes to go as his influence down the left flank helped England force their late equaliser.
In his last 11 caps in a competitive game for England, only three of those have seen Grealish play from the start as Southgate ultimately used him to change a game for him from the bench, including in three of the four knockout matches at last summer's European Championship run to the final.
When asked if he sees him as a starter or an impact sub, Southgate said: "He can do both. If we didn't trust him we wouldn't put him on the pitch with 20 minutes to go in the belief he can make a difference.
"At the start of the game the challenge for the wide players was to attack, defend and to try and score goals - high tactical level and you've got to be spot on - and that's an area Jack can get better at. What he did do was carry the ball as the game opened up with a little bit more space and opportunity. The impact both he and Jarrod Bowen had was really important in those attacking areas. There is a good challenge there among those players but we've got to keep pushing them."
After Saturday's defeat in Hungary, England were staring at successive Nations League defeats when Jonas Hofmann's second-half strike took Germany to within three minutes of victory of the Allianz Arena in Munich. However, Kane's strike capped a strong final quarter of the game from Southgate's men who deserved their draw.
Southgate said: "I was pleased with the level of performance. This type of fixture challenges everything; technical, tactical, physical, psychological and players had to give everything to get a result. In the first half we were OK but the quality of our passing wasn't at the level it needed to be. In the second half, we were passive in that period when we conceded but the response was fantastic. The quality of our attacking play, we created quality chances and deserved something from the game. That's a huge credit to the players in showing that mentality not to give in and to keep pushing.
"It's an important sign for when you are in a team - we've got seven or eight players still in there that got to a World Cup semi-final. That's important as they put their bodies on the line and on nights like this, you have to do that to get a result.
"These series of matches are about improving and learning as a team and you can't get that against lesser opposition so the quality of the game tests every part of the player. I think we'll review it and see things we can get better at but coming away from home and getting a good result was a challenge for the players. Top teams don't lose two games on the bounce and they've responded to that in the right way."
Kane converted the penalty calmly when there was little to be calm about as the clock ticked down.
The goal moves him clear of Sir Bobby Charlton on 50 goals for England, just three behind Wayne Rooney as his country's record scorer of all-time.
Kane told Channel 4: "Really nice feeling [to score]. I had a couple of chances earlier, the first one was over the bar and Manuel Neuer made a good save for the second. We kept going and played our best football in the last half an hour. Good to get the goal and a shame not to nick it at the end.
"I love scoring goals, I have always loved it especially for my country. Whenever I can help the team, I am glad to do that.
"It is really important to show the mentality, 1-0 behind we showed good character to get back into the game and get a result. We are playing against a very good Germany side. We still have important matches, but the World Cup will be here before we know it."
Southgate added on Kane: "I think rightly the fact he has scored 50 goals will be the centre part of the story, but his all round game and the way he led the line, pressing from the front was exceptional. His quality to drop deep makes us able to link the game and he gives us so many options when we had runners past him. There are little moments where he comes and takes the ball to relieve the pressure and you almost take them for granted, but it's such an important part of the game."
The resumption of the Nations League sees England host Euro 2020 conquerors Italy at Molineux and Germany travel to Hungary on Saturday at 7.45pm.
